PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Matikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Lashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Matikainen
vs
Lashley

182 cm
22
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
255 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pentti Matikainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bobby Lashley!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matikainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Matikainen works over Lashley's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Bobby Lashley has been cut.
Matikainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lashley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A nice combination there by Matikainen.
Matikainen throws a one two combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matikainen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lashley.
Nice straight punches there by Matikainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Matikainen.
Matikainen works over Lashley's head and body with a nice combination.
Lashley looks gassed!
Matikainen scores with the left hand. Lashley knows he should have avoided that one.
A right-left combo lands from Matikainen.
Matikainen throws a nice head kick!
Matikainen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Matikainen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lashley, pushing him back against the cage.

Matikainen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lashley is trying to keep an underhook but Matikainen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Matikainen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Lashley's thigh. Lashley counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matikainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Lashley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matikainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lashley is keeping the position for now.
Matikainen trying to control but Lashley is working from the bottom.
Lashley keeping full guard, as Matikainen tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lashley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matikainen passes into half guard.
Matikainen prevents Lashley from improving his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matikainen throws a head kick that half lands.
Matikainen scores with a head kick.
Matikainen misses with a series of wild punches.
Matikainen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A shot to de liver by Matikainen. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen tries to clinch there but Lashley circles away.
Matikainen is working the combinations to good effect here.
Matikainen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Matikainen duly obliges.
Matikainen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Matikainen lands a jab-cross combination.
Matikainen lands a two punch combo.
Matikainen scores with a hook to the body. Lashley takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matikainen lands a two punch combo.

Matikainen gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matikainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lashley keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lashley gets back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lashley controlling the position well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Matikainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lashley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Matikainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Lashley's cut.
That's time! Matikainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matikainen tries for a takedown but Lashley circles away easily

and Lashley counters with a single leg into guard. Matikainen didn't expect that.
Matikainen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Matikainen trying to control the position.
Lashley stops Matikainen from standing up.
Lashley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matikainen's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matikainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lashley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Matikainen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lashley is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matikainen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matikainen wants to get back to his feet but Lashley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lashley postures up.
Matikainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lashley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lashley tries to clinch up
and Matikainen counters with a big head kick but Lashley shrugs it off.
Lashley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Matikainen as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Matikainen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lashley looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lashley is not content to let Matikainen control the position.
Lashley prevents Matikainen from improving position.
Lashley manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen wants to control but Lashley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lashley thows a huge punch but Matikainen dodges it nicely.
Lashley lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matikainen trying to control from the bottom.
Matikainen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Lashley landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lashley prevents Matikainen from improving his position.
Lashley is thwarting Matikainen's attempts to control the position.
Matikainen wants to improve his position but Lashley is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lashley connects with a nice short shot to Matikainen's temple.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lashley lands a nice short elbow.
Lashley trying to control from half guard but Matikainen is working away.
Matikainen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matikainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matikainen trying to keep a closed guard but Lashley is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lashley's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Lashley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bobby Lashley's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lashley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matikainen scores with the left hand. Lashley knows he should have avoided that one.
Lashley has his takedown stuffed
and Matikainen counters with a nice body kick.
Matikainen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Matikainen scores with a three punch combo!
Good leg kick by Matikainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Matikainen throws a combination. Lashley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Matikainen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Matikainen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lashley has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matikainen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matikainen.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matikainen!
Matikainen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pentti Matikainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lashley takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Matikainen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Matikainen throws a head kick that Lashley semi-blocks.
Danga de danga de dang - Matikainen scores with a four punch combination!

Matikainen instigates a clinch.
Matikainen wants a takedown.
Lashley tries for a takedown but Matikainen manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matikainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matikainen throws a series of punches but Lashley avoids them all with ease.
Matikainen throws a leg kick which misses Lashley's front leg but catches the back leg as Lashley tries to avoid it.
Lashley tries to clinch but Matikainen moves out of range.
Matikainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lashley moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matikainen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Matikainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lashley can do to turn this around?
Matikainen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Matikainen feints and then cracks Lashley's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Lashley down.

Matikainen clinches up against the cage.
Lashley stops a takedown attempt from Matikainen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pentti Matikainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lashley is trying to maintain a safe position but Matikainen gets an underhook and turns Lashley into the cage.
Matikainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Lashley won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen looking to slow down the pace here.
Matikainen can't break the clinch.
Lashley wants to stall.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lashley tries for a takedown but Matikainen manages to get underhooks.
Matikainen can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lashley drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Matikainen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lashley prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lashley jumps guard but Matikainen stands there with Lashley around his waist. Lashley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Matikainen pulls guard.
Lashley throws a strike but Matikainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lashley keeping moving, preventing Matikainen from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pentti Matikainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matikainen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pentti Matikainen!